1/4/2008Fight is Not Over Yet
CAMPAIGNERS who lost their fight against plans for a tree-top assault course in a park are launching action to get the decision overturned.
Save Pollok Park wants government ministers to stop Glasgow City Council pressing ahead with the development of the Go Ape adventure course in Pollok Park.
The firm got the green light last week from Glasgow City Council's planning committee despite more than 800 objections. It now goes to the Scottish Government, who have the power to call in the plan, for a final ruling.
Save Pollok Park say they also have a 4000 signature petition against the plan, which will see rope bridges, zip lines and ladders strung from around 30 trees in the woods behind the Burrell.
The group has now announced its first meeting about taking their campaign to Holyrood.
It will be attended by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as well as councillors who voted against the plan.
Bill Fraser from Save Pollok Park said: "We have lost round one of our campaign but last Tuesday's ridiculous and illogical decision by the planning committee was only a bump on the road to victory.
"It's now time to re-energise ourselves for the very important next phase to have the planning decision called in by Scottish Ministers.
"Up until now the campaign has only been able to oppose on strict technical planning grounds and the council was able to hide behind this to avoid answering bigger questions.
"At a call-in, we can raise more relevant issues about the way the 'consultation' was conducted, whether the council has any right to grant a lease given the conditions of the deed of gift from the Maxwell family and the conduct of the council planning department in its preparation of the planning report."
The plan has to get final approval from the Government as Glasgow City Council has a financial interest in the proposal.
They will have 28 days to consider the application.
Ministers can then either call in the planning application for their own determination, possibly by means of holding a public local inquiry, or send it back to the council for them to deal with as they see fit.
Nicola Sturgeon MSP said: "I objected to this planning application and that remains my position. I have nothing against 'Go Ape' but Pollok Park is not the right place for it and the overwhelming majority of local opinion is against the plan. The public consultation carried out by the council was, in my view, inadequate and I would now urge Go Ape to carry out another public consultation before proceeding any further.
The meeting is at 8pm on Wednesday (2nd April.) at Pollokshields Burgh Hall, 70 Glencairn Drive, Pollokshields.
Save Pollok Park wants government ministers to stop Glasgow City Council pressing ahead with the development of the Go Ape adventure course in Pollok Park.
The firm got the green light last week from Glasgow City Council's planning committee despite more than 800 objections. It now goes to the Scottish Government, who have the power to call in the plan, for a final ruling.
Save Pollok Park say they also have a 4000 signature petition against the plan, which will see rope bridges, zip lines and ladders strung from around 30 trees in the woods behind the Burrell.
The group has now announced its first meeting about taking their campaign to Holyrood.
It will be attended by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as well as councillors who voted against the plan.
Bill Fraser from Save Pollok Park said: "We have lost round one of our campaign but last Tuesday's ridiculous and illogical decision by the planning committee was only a bump on the road to victory.
"It's now time to re-energise ourselves for the very important next phase to have the planning decision called in by Scottish Ministers.
"Up until now the campaign has only been able to oppose on strict technical planning grounds and the council was able to hide behind this to avoid answering bigger questions.
"At a call-in, we can raise more relevant issues about the way the 'consultation' was conducted, whether the council has any right to grant a lease given the conditions of the deed of gift from the Maxwell family and the conduct of the council planning department in its preparation of the planning report."
The plan has to get final approval from the Government as Glasgow City Council has a financial interest in the proposal.
They will have 28 days to consider the application.
Ministers can then either call in the planning application for their own determination, possibly by means of holding a public local inquiry, or send it back to the council for them to deal with as they see fit.
Nicola Sturgeon MSP said: "I objected to this planning application and that remains my position. I have nothing against 'Go Ape' but Pollok Park is not the right place for it and the overwhelming majority of local opinion is against the plan. The public consultation carried out by the council was, in my view, inadequate and I would now urge Go Ape to carry out another public consultation before proceeding any further.
The meeting is at 8pm on Wednesday (2nd April.) at Pollokshields Burgh Hall, 70 Glencairn Drive, Pollokshields.